Maturity

“I’ve been through it many, many times before,” Giuliani tells Time. “I accept it … People have every right to explore the positives and the negatives about me. It’s true for all these candidates: we all have things we’ve done right, things we’ve done wrong.” He continues, “That’s what this process is about, and you’ve got to come to peace with it, that it does involve scrutiny, attack, opportunity to explain what you’re talking about-and the chance, ultimately, to change things.”

In an election cycle this long, every candidate will have great days and awful days. Romney and Giuliani have telegraphed that they are very aware of this dynamic, have the fund-raising machines built and operating that can sustain their efforts, and the attitudes necessary to a long season.